recommend me a clean boost circuit

[liddokun]

Well, all opinions and facts aside, I still stand by my suggestion of the AMZ mosfet booster. I think it will do the above described job very well.

[jacobyjd]

Josh, I think the OP mentioned above that the overdrive is coming from the distortion pedal, the clean boost is just being used after the dirt box for a volume boost for soloing, not so much to drive the amp.

Ah, thanks Nam--

Well, if he's using the TS to push his amp's distortion, running a boost after it won't help on solos--it'll only saturate the amp more. If he's using the TS as a distortion on its own into a clean amp, it'll work just fine.

[doug0147]

Sparkle Boost! I love this boost!

http://www.aronnelson.com/gallery/main.php/v/MarkMs-Gallery/album15/album76/sparkleboost_458_LAYOUT.gif.html

[Mark Hammer]

There is a difference between:

1) Using a boost to produce the exact same sound, only at a different volume level,

2) Using a boost to push an amplifier into some form of clipping,

3) Using a boost to push an amplifier into some sort of predetermined and preshaped clipping,

4) Using a boost to produce a tone on its own which is made louder by the amp,

5) Using a boost to produce a tone on its own, which is then subsequently reclipped by the amp.

One certainly does not have to choose between these, as if they were mutually exclusive, but one does have to stipulate which set of goals one is aiming for, in order to be guided to the right tools for the job, and the right way to use that tool.

It's a bit like asking "Which job will make me happy?".  I don't know.  Define for me what you mean by "job", and what you mean by "happy" first.

[biggy boy]

Hi
OK How do you do number (1) with a Gus boost?

Same sound just louder. Do you put the boost just before the amp I guess?

[Mark Hammer]

You put it between the pedal chain and the amp, BUT you make a point of not adding too much gain.  Keep in mind that amps - and stages within amps - vary in terms of how much headroom they have.  One of the mistakes that people make is that they assume:

a) that whatever clipping comes from the amp is the same whether it comes from the front/preamp or the power stage,
b) the amp's headroom is monolithic and applies to every single tube stage equally.

Though tastes differ for entirely valid reasons, and though solid-state amps with a 12AX7 tube in the front end can satisfy some needs, generally speaking people tend to prefer power stage clipping more than preamp clipping.  Whatever you push your amp with, when it comes to boost, should stay well within the headroom limits of the front end.  To produce a simple change in level, that may mean a requirement to turn down the preamp gain, and turn the master volume up, so that the preamp's headroom is not severely challenged.

That can also be a reason to want to stick a booster pedal in the effects loop, where (in most instances) the change in level will affect only the power stage and any phase splitter preceding it.

[biggy boy]

OK so in the case of my Vox VT-15 Valvetronic amp, I would crank up the master turn down the gain ( which makes sense) and also set the amps volume down too?
The Valvetronic has Master volume, volume and gain.

[Al Heeley]

Further clarification needed:

What purpose is the booster supposed to serve? You mentioned that it's to increase the signal to an already-overdriven amp, but then you ask if it should come before or after a distortion pedal. This makes me wonder why you'd want a booster AND a distortion into an already-distorting amp...

Meaning...if I was going to use a booster to push my overdriven amp harder, then that IS my distortion--no real need for a distortion pedal if that's the case.

Can you clarify what's actually going on in the signal chain?

In the very first post I said i was looking for a boost to raise the volume of the amp when he wants to do a solo. Lets not over complicate the initial request with talk of overdrive, gain, distortion, etc.  Its a volume boost for solos to be heard above the rhythm part. Pure and simple.

[jacobyjd]

Further clarification needed:

What purpose is the booster supposed to serve? You mentioned that it's to increase the signal to an already-overdriven amp, but then you ask if it should come before or after a distortion pedal. This makes me wonder why you'd want a booster AND a distortion into an already-distorting amp...

Meaning...if I was going to use a booster to push my overdriven amp harder, then that IS my distortion--no real need for a distortion pedal if that's the case.

Can you clarify what's actually going on in the signal chain?

In the very first post I said i was looking for a boost to raise the volume of the amp when he wants to do a solo. Lets not over complicate the initial request with talk of overdrive, gain, distortion, etc.  Its a volume boost for solos to be heard above the rhythm part. Pure and simple.

Ok, no problem. However, if he's already overdriving the output tubes, a boost will only act to increase the amount of clipping that is occurring from pushing the output tubes so hard...in essence, it's the same as putting a booster before a distortion.

However, if what you mean by 'driving his amp pretty hard' is that he is using his preamp distortion (knowing the amp model will help), then a booster would have to go in his effects loop to actually increase volume. Make sense?

[liddokun]

OK so in the case of my Vox VT-15 Valvetronic amp, I would crank up the master turn down the gain ( which makes sense) and also set the amps volume down too?
The Valvetronic has Master volume, volume and gain.

Glen, that vox amp, is it the modelling amp that vox is marketing? Because if it's anything like my valvetronix ad15vt amp, then on certain amp models, the volume acts just as a second gain control. If that's the case, I would roll down that volume knob too, but not too much. (so pretty much agree  with what you posted).  As long as the boost from the booster pedal is within the headroom of the amp like Mark stated, achieving 1) shouldn't be too hard.

[biggy boy]

OK so in the case of my Vox VT-15 Valvetronic amp, I would crank up the master turn down the gain ( which makes sense) and also set the amps volume down too?
The Valvetronic has Master volume, volume and gain.

Glen, that vox amp, is it the modelling amp that vox is marketing? Because if it's anything like my valvetronix ad15vt amp,

Ya sorry forgot  the AD part of the model number.

[petemoore]

Can anyone recommend me a good, simple clean boost circuit?
Use is for boosting signal for soloing on an already pretty overdriven amp.
  I looked back to see if the start of my last post, "Nope'' was actually fair.
  If the above scenario is true, then 'nope' is the spot on answer.
  But truths in amplification can have countless variations and interpretations.
  I'm not there so have no way of knowing whether 'pretty overdriven' means:
  1 the output tubes are near their limits [basic tube-amp distortion sound], in which case stronger input signals will likely = increased distortion, very little  volume.
  2 The 'overdrive knob' is turned up more than 1/2 way, [basic preamp distortion of any kind, will distort more whether there isn't a volume increase or is.
  3 I dunno...some other interpretation.
  Part of my understanding of 'Clean Boost' meanings is that what is 'clean boost' to one amp, is a dirt enhancing circuit to another. Because this is going after a TS, there's going to be distortion [which may or may not be enhanced] and a higher voltage swing rate than guitar on the input.
  RG Said it, if you want clean use an opamp with whatever gain you want' and a power supply headroom that never will get in the way of the output waveform being linear to the input.

[Al Heeley]

Ok ok ok.
You know some amps come with a SOLO stompswitch? Sometimes they switch in a louder channel (or for the more pedantic, a separate channel that you can pre-set louder) well his amp doesn't have one. He used to have a volume pedal (not the variable resister rocker type, a 3pdt stompswitch type)
Is there a stompbox pedal to achieve the same effect? - for soloing - to increase the volume so the sound cuts through over the chords played by the rhythm?

One certainly does not have to choose between these, as if they were mutually exclusive, but one does have to stipulate which set of goals one is aiming for, in order to be guided to the right tools for the job

Not sure I can make the aim of my question any simpler to understand. maybe I need to look at one of those volume cut pedals instead.

[Al Heeley]

I guess this is the sort of thing I may be after:
http://www.diyguitarist.com/PDF_Files/SoloPro.pdf

[Der Groovemeister]

Well, what about some old school solution in the form of turning up everything on the amp to make your solo sound and then turn back the volume on your guitar for a rhythm volume. Just turn your guitar volume up for soloing. You can even make a passive tone control in a pedal for this. Or am I too obsessed with getting a Lynyrd Skynyrd tone?!

[trixdropd]

I guess this is the sort of thing I may be after:
http://www.diyguitarist.com/PDF_Files/SoloPro.pdf

All you need is a volume pot with a cap in a box wired to a switch. I make exactly what you need but wired with a relay for remote control. You set the box near the amp, put it in the fx loop of the amp. The volume sets the minimum volume (Rhythem) and when turned on it bypasses the volume knob giving you full volume (solo).

if you are interested in one of my Solo Box's pm me.

[Der Groovemeister]

Or, a volume pedal in the effects loop. Preferably one with a pot to dial in the minimum value. That's what I used to do before I had an all tube amp.

[Al Heeley]

Well, what about some old school solution in the form of turning up everything on the amp to make your solo sound and then turn back the volume on your guitar for a rhythm volume. Just turn your guitar volume up for soloing. You can even make a passive tone control in a pedal for this.

Errrm, yes, isn't that exactly what I just posted?
I'll just do one half of it with a 1 meg pot, a cap and an LED to supress the vol for non-solo stuff.
Since I have now etched the pcb for the AMZ mosfet boost and I'm curious I'm going to continue building this as well for fun.

[trixdropd]

Well, what about some old school solution in the form of turning up everything on the amp to make your solo sound and then turn back the volume on your guitar for a rhythm volume. Just turn your guitar volume up for soloing. You can even make a passive tone control in a pedal for this.

Errrm, yes, isn't that exactly what I just posted?
I'll just do one half of it with a 1 meg pot, a cap and an LED to supress the vol for non-solo stuff.
Since I have now etched the pcb for the AMZ mosfet boost and I'm curious I'm going to continue building this as well for fun.

and that will work perfect for ya.

[Der Groovemeister]

@Al Heeley: Sorry, couldn't open your link.